Driving tool for floor tap insert elements

ABSTRACT

A floor tap insert installing tool characterized by a hammer element movable along an elongated staff and arranged with an anvil assembly at one end whereby the hammer element may be selectively positioned to strike one or the other of two portions of the anvil assembly so as to apply blows to either of two portions of a floor tap insert being installed.

United States Patent Carver DRIVING TOOL FOR FLOOR TAP INSERT ELEMENTS Charles M. Carver, 435 19th Ave., San Francisco, Calif. 94121 Filed: July 6, 1971 Appl. No.: 159,759

Inventor:

US. Cl. 29/255 Int. Cl 823p 19/02 Field of Search 29/243, 52, 255,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1953 l-lelton .Q 29/255 1 1 Nov. 6, 1973 Primary ExaminerOthell M. Simpson Assistant Examiner-J. C. Peters Attorney-Flehr, Hohbach, Test, Albritton & Herbert [57] ABSTRACT 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures DRIVING TOOL FOR FLOOR TAP INSERT ELEMENTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention pertains to a driving tool and more particularly to a driving too] particularly useful for installing floor tap outlet devices of a cylindrical type adapted to be inserted by driving them axially into an opening formed through the wall of a utility passage or electric cable channel in a building.

Heretofore, in the conventional construction of buildings, such as office buildings and the like, the floor construction may include transversely extending utility passages adapted to contain electric cables and the like. These utility passages or ducts are typically constructed of thin sheet metal and, in constructing the floor, the utility passages frequently are embedded in concrete which sometimes is poured on top of these passages.

According to one particular style of floor tap outlet device, a circular hole is formed through the concrete downwardly to the top surface of the utility passage of cable channel. At that point, a circular saw or other device is employed to cut a circular opening through the top surface of the utility passage. Subsequently, a cylindrical insert unit must be driven axially of the hole, and for this purpose, one particular insert unit is formed with a tapered or frusto-conical lower end surface including a locking notch surrounding the lower end of the unit whereby, upon proper axial driving of the unit, the notch will engage the lip of the opening formed through the top of the utility passage.

Typically, when the floor tap outlet device has been properly seated, as above described, its upper edge will be disposed at a position whereby, upon inserting a threaded cap, the cap will lie substantially flush with the concrete floor above the utility passage.

Typically, in order to move readily permit the lower end of the floor tap outlet device to engage the lip of the opening formed in the utility passage, the lower end of the floor tap outlet device will be sub-divided into a number of deformable tangs which can readily be bent radially inwardly as the outlet device is driven axially into the opening formed in the utility passage.

Once the device has been properly seated in the utility passage opening, as above described, it is then desirable and necessary to drive a locking ring downwardly along the interior side wall of the outlet device in a manner which causes the lower end of the cylindrical floor tap outlet device to be wedged radially outwardly and, hence, to become locked permanently in the opening of the utility passage.

From the foregoing, it will be readily evident that I where a relatively large building is involved and a relatively large number of such floor tap outlet devices must be installed with accuracy in minimum time, the proper installation requires some skill on the part of the workman and inherently involves such frustrating problems as cocking of the axis of the device and the locking ring within the device as they are hammered downwardly into the utility passage opening.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND OBJECTS It is a general object of the present invention to overcome the foregoing and other problems involved in the installation of floor tap outlet devices of the above type and other types wherein a device containing a pair of longitudinally movable parts must be individually driven in proper axial alignment.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved tool for properly insuring the installation of floor tap outlet devices at great speed.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will be more readily evident from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment.

In general, there is provided herein a driving tool comprising an elongated staff, a hammer element movable along the staff between advanced and retracted positions for striking driving blows at one end of the staff, and an anvil assembly carried at the end of the staff for receiving the driving blows. The anvil assembly includes a first and second portion, one portion being movable independently of the other, and each of the anvil portions includes a striking part disposed to receive blows from the hammer for transmittingsuch blows to a related one of the anvil portions. The hammer element is formed and arranged for selectively applying its blow to one or the other of the two striking parts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bottom end of a driving tool according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view, partly in section, showing a driving tool disposed in position for installing a floor tap outlet device according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view corresponding to FIG. 2 showing a driving tool according to the invention at a subsequent stage of installation of a floor tap outlet device of the above type;

FIG. 4 shows a side elevation section view of a driving tool according to the invention but oriented for transmitting blows to a portion of the anvil assembly different from that being struck in FIGS. 2 and 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In general, a tool 10 for installing floor tap outlet devices ll of a cylindrical type adapted to be inserted into an opening 12 formed through a concrete floor 15 and driven axially into an opening 13 formed through the wall 14 of a utility passage or electric cable channel 16 includes a locking notch 17 formed about the lower tapered, outer surface of device 11 which is further sub-divided as by means of the cuts 18 so as to form readily deformable tang portions 19 at the lower end of device 11. Accordingly, as the generally cylindrical shell-like device 11 is axially driven downwardly into opening 12, the notch 17 ultimately engages the lip 21 formed about opening 13 leading into passage 16.

In order to lock device 11 securely in its inserted position, and annular locking ring 22 having an enlarged diameter relative to that of the open lower end of device ll is driven axially downwardly through device 11 so as to wedge the tang portions 19 radially, outwardly apart, thereby leaving ring 22 in a position whereby the tang portions 19 will be locked in a radially, outwardly wedged state.

Installation of a floor tap outlet device of the above style may be readily achieved by a tool of the type described herein wherein an elongated staff member 23 supports a relatively heavy hammer element 24 for movement therealong between retracted and advanced positions as will be more fully described further below.

The lower end of tool carries an anvil assembly 26 (FIG. 1) for receiving the blows struck from hammer element 24. Anvil assembly 26 includes a bottom portion 27 fixed to staff 23 at the bottom end thereof and which is driven by engagement between the bottom striking surface 28 of hammer element 24 with a rigid, transversely extending cross-arm 29 formed integral with or rigidly attached to staff 23.

Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 1, hammer element 24 must be rotated 90 about the axis of staff 23 in order to cause the striking surface 28 to be positioned to engage cross-arm 29 and thereby drive portion 27 when seating one of the rings 22.

Initially, in order to properly insert a floor tap outlet shell or device 11, the hammer element 24 is oriented in the manner shown in FIG. 1 whereby a relieved portion 31 in the form of a groove or notch passes over cross-arm 29 to permit the striking surface 28 to engage the upper surface 32 forming the striking part of a second portion of anvil assembly 26. The annular, rigid anvil portion 33 includes a flange 34 which is dimensioned and designed to seat snugly on top of the upper rim or edge of a floor tap outlet device 11 whereby, when the striking surface 28 engages the upper striking surface 32 of anvil portion 33, device 11 will be driven axially into the opening 12 .to an appropriate depth. Ultimately, when the operator feels notch 17 engage lip 21, the operator can then raise hammer element 24 so as to be able to rotate hammer element 24 about staff member 23 substantially 90 whereby locking ring 22 will be driven downwardly by applying blows to cross-arm 29 to be transmitted downwardly to lower portion 27 of anvil assembly 26. Obviously, during the driving of ring 22, the intermediate anvil portion 33 of assembly 26 is free to move along staff 23 as it rests in place on top of device 11.

Thus, each of the two anvil portions 27, 33 includes a striking part 29, 32 respectively for selectively receiving the impact of blows from the bottom surface of hammer element 24 depending upon its rotational orientation for engaging arm 29 or receiving arm 29 within its relieved portion 31. In short, the striking end of hammer element 24 includes means which are operable in one of two positions for passing the striking end 28 clear of one of the striking parts, namely 29, while permittingthe stiking end 28 to transmit a blow to the other of the two striking parts, namely the surface 32.

which it may be necessary to drive anvil portion 27 relative to anvil portion 33.

Having in mind the foregoing general construction of the apparatus, it will be readily evident that a floor tap outlet unit or device 11 of the type above described can be readily installed simply by inserting same into a snugly formed hole or opening 12 cut in the concret floor 15, dropping a locking ring 22 into the interior of the cylindrical shell-like portion of device ,11 and then inserting anvil portions 27, 33 into device 11. Subsequently, in order to permanently install device 11, it is simply necessary to drive hammer element 24 downwardly along staff 23 while the relieved notch or groove portion 31 is oriented to receive cross-arm 29 whereby the upper anvil portion 33 will be struck and drive the outer shell of device 11 axially downwardly until notch 17 engages lip 21. At that point, in order to lock the device securely in place, it is simply necessary to rotate hammer element 24 and then drive the hammer element 24 downwardly against cross-arm 29 which transmits the downward hammer blows to the lower anvil portion 27 then engaging ring 22.Ultimately, by feel and experience, it will be evident as to when device 11 has been positively engaged in the opening 13 of utility passage 16.

Finally, a collar 36 is secured to staff 23 whereby hammer element 24 will be positively retained upon staff 23 regardless of the orientation of the device.

l claim:

1. A driving tool comprising an elongated staff, a hammer element movable along said staff between advanced and retracted positions for striking driving blows at one end of said staff, an anvil assembly carried at said one end of said staff for receiving said blows, said anvil assembly having first and second anvil portions, one being movable independently of the other, each of said anvil portions including a striking part disposed to receive said blows for transmitting the same via a related oneof said first or second portions, said striking parts being axially spaced at said one end, said hammer element having a striking end and means operable in one of two positions for passing the striking end clear of one of the striking parts while permitting the striking end to transmit a blow to the other of said striking parts and operable in the other of said twopositions to permit the striking end to transmit a blow to said one of said striking parts while permitting the striking ends to pass clear of the other of said striking parts.

2. A driving tool comprising an elongated staff, a hammer element, movable along said staff between advanced and retracted positions for striking driving blows at one end of said staff, an anvil assembly carried at said one end of said staff for receiving said blows, said anvil assembly having first and second anvil portions, one being movable independently of the other, each of said anvil portions including a striking part disposed to receive said blows for transmitting the same via a related one of said first or second portions, said striking parts being axially spaced at said one end, said hammer element having a striking end with a transverse relieved portion to receive one of said striking parts for permitting the striking end to engage the other of said striking parts in blow transferring relation, said' hammer element being rotatable about the axis of the staff to orient said relieved portion to a position precluding receipt of said one of said striking parts and disposing the striking ends to engage said one of said striking parts in blow transferring relation.

3. A driving tool comprising an elongated staff member, a hammer element movable along said staff member between advanced and retracted positions for striking blows at one end of said staff member, a first anvil portion carried at said one end of said staff member, a transversely disposed first striking part fixed to said staff member at said one end and spaced axially from said first anvil portion for receiving blows struck by said hammer element for axially driving said first anvil portion, a second anvil portion movable along said staff at said one end between said first anvil portion and said first striking part, said second anvil portion having a top surface forming a striking part thereof and a flange serving to engage the upper edge of cylindrical cup-like element to be driven, and the hammer element having a transversely extending relieved portion for receiving said first striking part while permitting the end of said hammer element to engage in blow-transferring relation said striking part of said second anvil portion, said hammer element being rotatable about said staff for orienting said relieved portion to preclude receipt of said first striking part and cause the bottom of said hammer element to strike said first striking part for driving said first anvil portion.

4. A driving tool comprising an elongated staff member, a first anvil member rigidly affixed to the staff member at one end thereof, a striking part rigidly affixed to the staff member for receiving blows and transmitting them through the staff member to the first anvil member, said striking part being disposed proximate to the one end of the staff member and spaced axially from the first anvil member, a second anvil member movable along the staff member between the first anvil member and the striking part, and hammer means movable along the staff member and also movable between first and second rotative positions for selectively striking either the striking part or the second anvil member moved toward the one end of the staff member.

5. A driving tool as in claim 4 wherein the striking part comprises a transverse cross-arm member extending radially from the staff member, and the hammer means comprises a hammer element having a striking surface at one end thereof and an axially extending cutaway portion opening through said striking surface,

said striking surface being oriented for striking the cross-arm member when the hammer element is in its first rotative position and for striking the second anvil member when the hammer element is in its second rotative position, the cross-armmember being received in the cut-away portion when the hammer element is in its second rotative position. 

1. A driving tool comprising an elongated staff, a hammer element movable along said staff between advanced and retrActed positions for striking driving blows at one end of said staff, an anvil assembly carried at said one end of said staff for receiving said blows, said anvil assembly having first and second anvil portions, one being movable independently of the other, each of said anvil portions including a striking part disposed to receive said blows for transmitting the same via a related one of said first or second portions, said striking parts being axially spaced at said one end, said hammer element having a striking end and means operable in one of two positions for passing the striking end clear of one of the striking parts while permitting the striking end to transmit a blow to the other of said striking parts and operable in the other of said two positions to permit the striking end to transmit a blow to said one of said striking parts while permitting the striking ends to pass clear of the other of said striking parts.
 2. A driving tool comprising an elongated staff, a hammer element, movable along said staff between advanced and retracted positions for striking driving blows at one end of said staff, an anvil assembly carried at said one end of said staff for receiving said blows, said anvil assembly having first and second anvil portions, one being movable independently of the other, each of said anvil portions including a striking part disposed to receive said blows for transmitting the same via a related one of said first or second portions, said striking parts being axially spaced at said one end, said hammer element having a striking end with a transverse relieved portion to receive one of said striking parts for permitting the striking end to engage the other of said striking parts in blow transferring relation, said hammer element being rotatable about the axis of the staff to orient said relieved portion to a position precluding receipt of said one of said striking parts and disposing the striking ends to engage said one of said striking parts in blow transferring relation.
 3. A driving tool comprising an elongated staff member, a hammer element movable along said staff member between advanced and retracted positions for striking blows at one end of said staff member, a first anvil portion carried at said one end of said staff member, a transversely disposed first striking part fixed to said staff member at said one end and spaced axially from said first anvil portion for receiving blows struck by said hammer element for axially driving said first anvil portion, a second anvil portion movable along said staff at said one end between said first anvil portion and said first striking part, said second anvil portion having a top surface forming a striking part thereof and a flange serving to engage the upper edge of cylindrical cup-like element to be driven, and the hammer element having a transversely extending relieved portion for receiving said first striking part while permitting the end of said hammer element to engage in blow-transferring relation said striking part of said second anvil portion, said hammer element being rotatable about said staff for orienting said relieved portion to preclude receipt of said first striking part and cause the bottom of said hammer element to strike said first striking part for driving said first anvil portion.
 4. A driving tool comprising an elongated staff member, a first anvil member rigidly affixed to the staff member at one end thereof, a striking part rigidly affixed to the staff member for receiving blows and transmitting them through the staff member to the first anvil member, said striking part being disposed proximate to the one end of the staff member and spaced axially from the first anvil member, a second anvil member movable along the staff member between the first anvil member and the striking part, and hammer means movable along the staff member and also movable between first and second rotative positions for selectively striking either the striking part or the second anvil member moved toward the one end of the staff member.
 5. A driving tool as in claim 4 wherein the striking part comprises a transverse cross-arm member extending radially from the staff member, and the hammer means comprises a hammer element having a striking surface at one end thereof and an axially extending cut-away portion opening through said striking surface, said striking surface being oriented for striking the cross-arm member when the hammer element is in its first rotative position and for striking the second anvil member when the hammer element is in its second rotative position, the cross-arm member being received in the cut-away portion when the hammer element is in its second rotative position. 